Commentary on “Evaluation of shooting distance by AFM and FTIR⁄ATR analysis of GSR” Mou Y., Lakadwar J., Rabalais J.W., J. Forensic Sci. 2008; 53:1381-6

This piece highlights the disadvantages of utiising atomic force microscopy (AFM) for analysis of gun shot residue (GSR) and other fine powders. Also outlined is the origin of novel particle shapes that can be found in some published images

Burnt to memory: Data extraction from heat damaged mobile phones

Data is retained in SIM card devices that are subjected to temperatures which exceed those likely to be experienced in house fires. In some cases the data is retrievable by rebuilding severed connections; however, in the majority of instances, chips will suffer additional damage to the top surface or circuitry, or experience some mechanical damage. In these cases, although the data is retained in the memory, it cannot be read by conventional methods, and an alternative technique, such as direct probing of the stored charge, needs to be employed to access the retained data

In Diamond Health

In contrast to the sparkling gemstone, diamond-like carbon (DLC) is a thin film coating that is dense, inert, low friction and hard wearing. Interdisciplinary research, involving materials scientists, physicists, mechanical engineers, biomedical specialists and clinicians, is continuously expanding the potential and applications of DLC and enhanced carbon-based materials in the medical sector

Effect of expiratory muscle fatigue on exercise tolerance and locomotor muscle fatigue in healthy humans

High-intensity exercise (> or =90% of maximal O(2) uptake) sustained to the limit of tolerance elicits expiratory muscle fatigue (EMF). We asked whether prior EMF affects subsequent exercise tolerance. Eight male subjects (means +/- SD; maximal O(2) uptake = 53.5 +/- 5.2 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) cycled at 90% of peak power output to the limit of tolerance with (EMF-EX) and without (CON-EX) prior induction of EMF and for a time equal to that achieved in EMF-EX but without prior induction of EMF (ISO-EX). To induce EMF, subjects breathed against an expiratory flow resistor until task failure (15 breaths/min, 0.7 expiratory duty cycle, 40% of maximal expiratory gastric pressure). Fatigue of abdominal and quadriceps muscles was assessed by measuring the reduction relative to prior baseline values in magnetically evoked gastric twitch pressure (Pga(tw)) and quadriceps twitch force (Q(tw)), respectively. The reduction in Pga(tw) was not different after resistive breathing vs. after CON-EX (-27 +/- 5 vs. -26 +/- 6%; P = 0.127). Exercise time was reduced by 33 +/- 10% in EMF-EX vs. CON-EX (6.85 +/- 2.88 vs. 9.90 +/- 2.94 min; P < 0.001). Exercise-induced abdominal and quadriceps muscle fatigue was greater after EMF-EX than after ISO-EX (-28 +/- 9 vs. -12 +/- 5% for Pga(tw), P = 0.001; -28 +/- 7 vs. -14 +/- 6% for Q(tw), P = 0.015). Perceptual ratings of dyspnea and leg discomfort (Borg CR10) were higher at 1 and 3 min and at end exercise during EMF-EX vs. during ISO-EX (P < 0.05). Percent changes in limb fatigue and leg discomfort (EMF-EX vs. ISO-EX) correlated significantly with the change in exercise time. We propose that EMF impaired subsequent exercise tolerance primarily through an increased severity of limb locomotor muscle fatigue and a heightened perception of leg discomfort

Effect of expiratory muscle fatigue on exercise tolerance and locomotor muscle fatigue in healthy humans

High-intensity exercise (> or =90% of maximal O(2) uptake) sustained to the limit of tolerance elicits expiratory muscle fatigue (EMF). We asked whether prior EMF affects subsequent exercise tolerance. Eight male subjects (means +/- SD; maximal O(2) uptake = 53.5 +/- 5.2 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) cycled at 90% of peak power output to the limit of tolerance with (EMF-EX) and without (CON-EX) prior induction of EMF and for a time equal to that achieved in EMF-EX but without prior induction of EMF (ISO-EX). To induce EMF, subjects breathed against an expiratory flow resistor until task failure (15 breaths/min, 0.7 expiratory duty cycle, 40% of maximal expiratory gastric pressure). Fatigue of abdominal and quadriceps muscles was assessed by measuring the reduction relative to prior baseline values in magnetically evoked gastric twitch pressure (Pga(tw)) and quadriceps twitch force (Q(tw)), respectively. The reduction in Pga(tw) was not different after resistive breathing vs. after CON-EX (-27 +/- 5 vs. -26 +/- 6%; P = 0.127). Exercise time was reduced by 33 +/- 10% in EMF-EX vs. CON-EX (6.85 +/- 2.88 vs. 9.90 +/- 2.94 min; P < 0.001). Exercise-induced abdominal and quadriceps muscle fatigue was greater after EMF-EX than after ISO-EX (-28 +/- 9 vs. -12 +/- 5% for Pga(tw), P = 0.001; -28 +/- 7 vs. -14 +/- 6% for Q(tw), P = 0.015). Perceptual ratings of dyspnea and leg discomfort (Borg CR10) were higher at 1 and 3 min and at end exercise during EMF-EX vs. during ISO-EX (P < 0.05). Percent changes in limb fatigue and leg discomfort (EMF-EX vs. ISO-EX) correlated significantly with the change in exercise time. We propose that EMF impaired subsequent exercise tolerance primarily through an increased severity of limb locomotor muscle fatigue and a heightened perception of leg discomfort

Economic evaluation of ondansetron: Preliminary analysis using clinical trial data prior to price setting

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund and is available from the specified link - Copyright © 1992 Macmillan Press Ltd.This study combines secondary analysis of efficacy and side-effect data from a randomised controlled trial with estimates of resource use to evaluate the likely economic effects of the new antiemetic agent ondansetron. Costs, effects and cost-effectiveness of ondansetron in the prophylaxis of acute nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy are assessed relative to antiemetic therapy with metoclopramide. Superior efficacy of ondansetron is quantified both in terms of significant emesis avoided and emesis management costs avoided. A simple cost analysis, with the metoclopramide dosage priced at 10 pounds, indicates that therapy with ondansetron would give equivalent net treatment costs, at a price ratio (ondansetron/metoclopramide) of 2.3 to 1. If therapeutic success is defined as the avoidance of emesis and antiemetic side-effects, then the two therapies would be equally cost-effective at a drug price ratio of 5 to 1. We conclude that, (i) economic evaluation prior to price setting is feasible and informative; (ii) such models can indicate prospective data collection priorities

Hedging and invoicing strategies to reduce exchange rate exposure - a euro-area perspective

Domestic-currency invoicing and hedging allow internationally active firms to reduce their exposure to exchange rate variations. This paper argues that domestic-currency invoicing and hedging with exchange rate derivatives allow a fairly straightforward management of transaction and translation risk. Broader economic risk (which takes into account the impact of the exchange rate on competitiveness) is by its very nature harder to manage, but the paper argues that natural hedging provides possibilities for doing so. A novelty of this paper is a survey of actual hedging strategies and techniques of large euro-area corporations. The paper finds that euro-area exporters make ample use of instruments to limit the adverse impact of euro appreciation.Exchange rate risk, invoicing, hedging, derivatives, Hedging and invoicing strategies to reduce exchange rate exposure - a euro-area perspective, Economic Paper, D�hring

Fabrication of bifunctional membrane electrode assemblies for unitised regenerative polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Bifunctional membrane electrode assemblies have been fabricated using a screen printing technique, which demonstrate a repeatable and stable operation to cell current and voltages. This approach lends itself to a rapid, low-cost and repeatable fabrication process for bifunctional catalytic electrodes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and electrolysers

A comparison between the MEXE and Pippard's methods of assessing the load carrying capacity of masonry arch bridges

The Military Engineering eXperimental Establishment (MEXE) method is a long established system of masonry arch load carrying capacity assessment. It has been subject to review in recent years and some shortcomings have been identified. There is now growing consensus that the current version of MEXE overestimates the load carrying capacity of short span bridges, but for spans over 12m it becomes increasingly conservative. In this paper Pippard’s elastic method and the MEXE method are used to investigate the significance of factors such as fill cover, ring thickness and effective width of arch barrel, and their effect upon the load-carrying capacity predictions in short and long span arches. Conclusions are drawn which establish directions of new research and offer guidance to assessors of short and long span masonry arch bridges

Low cost patterning of thin film

A novel route for the low-cost patterning of electrical thin films has been established. The process has been developed principally for the manufacture of thermocouples using high-speed reel-to-reel industrial techniques, but could be applied to the manufacture of a wide range of electronic devices including radio frequency identification (RFID) antennae, electrical interconnect, and passive electronic components. The procedure exploits high-volume processes directly to print self-removing masking layers. The process offers substantial advantages over traditional thin-film patterning methods including faster, cheaper production runs. Raw material use and wastage are greatly reduced, affording environmental benefits